Summary of Questionnaire Analysis
(link to view questionnaire)
Within the 22 separate questions that formed the basis of the survey earlier this year, it is evident that some elements considered provoked particularly dominant responses, whereas in respect of others one could perhaps describe the response as ‘lukewarm’ at best.
In considering the objectives to be included in the Plan it is perhaps pertinent therefore to try to establish the most dominant themes and the aspects that seem to concern the “Rothwell Community” to the greatest degree. This short resume seeks to establish the aspects that fall into this category.
The most dominant results within the questionnaire relate to the greater protection of the environment and heritage. In particular protection of the landscape was something that 85% of respondents either strongly agreed with or agreed with and only 4% disagreed. It was a very similar story in respect of protection of the greenbelt and open spaces, with protection of public rights of way also being agreed by 88% of those who responded. Protection of local heritage was strongly agreed by 80% of respondents and disagreed by 5%.
Housing which has dominated the thinking of the Forum to a considerable degree was not as dominant in respect of the survey results. The question as to whether more housing should be built in Rothwell was agreed by 34% of respondents and disagreed by 54%. The figures in respect of more affordable or social housing (and really these two parameters should have perhaps been separately dealt with) showed that 48% of people agreed with this and 31 % disagreed and 21% had no opinion. It was clear however that people felt there should a varied mix of houses in terms of style and size and this was agreed by 67% of respondents. There was no clear view in respect of the introduction of more commercial development within Rothwell with 38% of respondents agreeing with the statement and 35% being of the opposite opinion.
On other issues, such as public transport, more people felt it was satisfactory than those who did not (and this is interesting bearing in mind the age demographic of respondents) and 63% of people agreed with the statement that car parking provision was satisfactory in Rothwell. People were rather non-committal when it came to the question allied to bicycle routes and 54% of those who responded had no opinion, but overall significantly more people felt that routes needed increasing/improving than not.
45% of respondents had no opinion in respect of whether there were enough employment opportunities in Rothwell, but overall about twice as many people who had a view, felt there were not enough opportunities than those who thought there were. (these results were possibly affected by the age profile of respondents)
School provision was another parameter where there was no very obvious viewpoint. 35% thought provision was adequate and 30% thought it was not and 35% had no opinion. It was a fairly similar result in respect of whether health and social care provision was satisfactory. Here 43% of people thought it was and 46% did not.
The subjects of children’s play provision and leisure and sport provision yielded similar results to each other, with agreement equating to 52% and 48% respectively. The figures allied to disagreement were 26% and 31% respectively.
Provision of increased social activities for all age groups was agreed by 54% of respondents with only 13% of people actively disagreeing with the statement. People felt that Rothwell had enough shops to the tune of 58% versus 28%. Levels of policing were thought to be more unsatisfactory than satisfactory, but only marginally so, (42% versus 38%).
Finally the question allied to emphasis given to renewable energy generation seemed to yield affirmative results despite the fact that this question was not answered by as many respondents and the issue of wind turbines seemed to be a key factor. Nevertheless 70% of those people who did respond, agreed that more emphasis should be given to renewable energy generation.
PE 3/9/17
